Introducing the NETI POT

I am a man with allergies. I often get rhinosinusitis (whether acute or chronic i have no idea. What's the difference anyways?). Thats basically a sinus infection. I ALWAYS get them at least once in the spring and fall. This year, though, I have had FIVE since October. It is ridiculous. I've noticed that it comes on when I stay up late with Abigail (I'm not a night owl). It usually starts with a sore throat (which stays for a few days). I then feel it move into my sinuses where I have pressure and lots of draining (runny nose). Then it moves into my throat and I cough (post-nasal drip). It is a miserable time. BUT One of the greatest things has happened to me the last few weeks. THE NETI POT. Susie's mom recommended it to her while she was pregnant and had a stuffy nose. I thought it was one of them wives tails, especially seeing how it works. Susie's nose was too stuffy for it to work so I didn't think much of it until a couple weeks ago (like 8 months later). Christmas I had the sinus infection and hated it. I got home, getting over it and I could feel another one coming (because a sore throat was coming on). I said OH HECK NO! So I tried the Neti pot. Let me tell you how it works

You poor salt in the pot then add luke warm water (essentially saline). You stand up straight, put the extended part of the pot to one of your nostrils and lean your head the direction the pot is pointing. It feels REALLY weird at first. Water rushes into one nostril and out the other. When youre done, just blow your nose and you're done. You can do this as often as every two hours. I do it about once a day now.

OK so back to the story. So I tried this stuff (before my nose was too stuffy for anything to come out) and did it a few times that day. My sore throat went completely away. Later I felt another coming (gosh dangit leave me alone!!) So I tried it. It worked. I now am an advocate of the neti pot. I have since been free of any sign of rhinosinusitis

So, me being the scientist that I am, looked PUBMED's website (the site where ALL legit scholarly articles are published). I looked up Nasal irrigation and they said that studies have shown that it is truly effective in preventing sinus infections. So anyone like me that gets these stinkin things should get a neti pot.

DISCLAIMER- If you cannot get any air through a nostril because it is plugged and stuffy, you've waited too long and will have to wait till both nostrils can get some air out of it. GOOD LUCK!!!

Say "Cheese"

2 months

I guess it's time for a new post! I've been doing so good this month, or at least i feel like I am. Let's see here, to keep you updated... last week was pretty awesome. Not much happened until Saturday. We had our Super Saturday activity for Relief Society and we made these cute decorations for the different seasons.

Afterwards Chelsea and I went to Roberts to put our names in a drawing for some Christmas supplies, but unfortunately neither of us won. We then joined our husbands and watched the Georgia game and made hair clips. Sunday I made cupcakes for a girl at church and had some extras so Ashley and Jon and Reid and I got those, yummy... and then later that night I made a Grasshopper pie. Way good and easy (Oreo crumbs, mint chocolate chip ice cream and whipped cream) But the most awesomest thing of last week was that Abigail has started sleeping at least 6 hours a night. She has started to vary as to when she wants to go to bed, but it is somewhere between 9 and 12. Oh how I love my sleep!

Today she is 2 months, which means that I've been doing okay at keeping her alive! She is really starting to coo and talk to us. Last week, she sang with Reid during church! The only time she really fusses is when she is hungry or tired, or just wants to be held (she's my little cuddle buddy:) ) She smiles a lot too, but I can never get a really good picture of it. That's my mission this week is to get a good smiling picture from her.

This week is going to be awesome too! It started today. I deep cleaned my kitchen while Reid watched Abigail (thanks honey). I haven't seen it so clean since well before Abigail was born. Thursday I get to pick up Jayne at the airport (I'm not looking forward to driving to Salt Lake on my own) and Friday all three of us girls are going to see New Moon! I must say that is one expensive movie ticket for Jayne! Oh and In 'N Out opens tomorrow! What joy has come to my life! But that's it. I'll work on my pictures!

Twins

What cute girls!

Abigail and her cousin Olivia. Shirts courtesy of Grandma Wiehoff :)

The Countdown -16 days

Can anything be more exciting!?!

The Winds of Change????

For what seems to be for ages, or at least the past month, Abigail likes to think that daytime is really nighttime and nighttime is really daytime. So as you can guess, she likes to stay up at night. Not just for an hour or two, but more like 5 to 6 hours straight. I've been reading this book "Healthy Sleep Habits, Healthy Child" and it says not to let infants be up for more than two hours. Now how are you supposed to put an awake child to bed? Seriously! Anyway last night may have been a break-through. We put her to bed at 10:30 and she woke up at midnight. (that was expected) She finished eating at about 1 am and seemed tired. I put her in her crib and of course she decided to wake up. I let her cry it out for 5 minutes, comforted her, tried feeding her some more, put her back to bed, and let her cry 10 more minutes. Finally I picked her back up and rocked her. She liked that and fell back to sleep. Instead of putting her back in her crib she slept in my arms. (it's not something that I want to have to happen every night, but oh how peaceful it is to have your little one sleeping in your arms) She slept from 2 am to 9 am with a little fussing/eating at 6 am when Reid had to get up for school, but she never fully woke up until 9. How splendid it is to have gotten some sleep! This isn't her last night but when she is sleeping she can sleep through anything... What a cutie!

Happy Halloween!
It's finally here which means that Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years is right abound the corner! Oh the holidays.
This year we celebrated the festivities by going to Lena and Scott's house the night before. We played the Wii and had lots of pumpkin food and popcorn balls (I haven't had a popcorn ball in years!). Way good food by the way you two!
Halloween day we got to sleep in a little (thank you Abigail). We went over to Doyle and Chelsea's house and carved our pumpkin. As the carving took place, the Georgia unfortunately lost to Florida, but we need not remind ourselves of that. The Port family joined us and boy are they one cute family; they all dressed up! Way to make all your costumes Mandi!
Abigail didn't go trick or treating, but she did get to take pictures with Olivia. Here are some of the pictures... (sorry they are backwards)






Does anyone have any suggestions as to what we should do next year as a family dressing up? I would greatly appreciate the input! Thanks